The Israel Police have confirmed a significant crackdown on corruption in the country's soccer scene, with the arrest of seventeen individuals connected to a team in the National League, Israel's second division. This major operation targets alleged match-fixing and money laundering activities that have spanned several years, shaking the foundations of the sport.
Widespread Arrests Target Players and Administrators
According to official statements from the Israel Police, those detained include current players and senior administrators of the unnamed soccer team. They are suspected of being involved in a sophisticated scheme to manipulate match outcomes over an extended period. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Israel Football Association, has focused on criminal activities alleged to have occurred over the past three years.
Early Morning Raids and Questioning
In a coordinated effort, dozens of police officers executed early morning raids on the suspects' homes this Monday, bringing them in for intensive questioning. The scale of the operation underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the commitment of authorities to root out corruption from the sport.
Criminal Organization Exploits Soccer Club
Police allege that the arrested individuals have ties to a criminal organization that used the soccer team as a platform for illicit activities. This organization is believed to have laundered millions of shekels through various means, including illegal gambling operations and the signing of multiple contracts with players, a practice known as double contracting.
The criminal organization used the team as a platform to commit criminal offenses, including suspicion of skewing results, buying and selling games for the purpose of profiting from illegal gambling, and suspicions of double contracts, police emphasized in their statement.
Match Manipulation for Gambling Profits
Investigators detail that matches were deliberately bought or sold to predetermine outcomes, which were then used to place bets with prior knowledge of the results. After it was possible to know the outcome of the bet, the bets were made with the outcome already known, the police stressed, highlighting the calculated nature of the scheme.
Financial Scale and Team Identification
Police estimate that tens of millions of shekels were funneled through this elaborate match-fixing and money laundering operation. While authorities have not publicly named the team involved, citing the ongoing investigation, Hebrew media reports have identified it as F.C. Kiryat Yam, a club based in a town near Haifa.
This scandal raises serious concerns about the integrity of soccer in Israel and the potential involvement of organized crime in sports. The probe continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the corruption and hold those responsible accountable.
